West Ham United have just made an extremely bold move to sign Nice centre-back Jean-Clair Todibo.
Julen Lopetegui is prioritising the addition of a top-class centre-back this summer, and Jean-Clair Todibo is the latest name to emerge as a target for West Ham.
The Hammers conceded a truly embarrassing 74 Premier League goals last season – a tally worsened only by the three relegated clubs.
Kurt Zouma and Nayef Aguerd need to be upgraded on urgently, and both players are actually being linked with summer exits from the London Stadium.
Todibo, 24, is a man who has been linked with a move to West Ham before, after David Moyes tried to bring him to the club in the summer of 2023.
Now it has been claimed that the Hammers have launched a £25 million bid for the Frenchman (The Guardian).
The Nice star is an elite central defender, and he has really impressed for the Ligue 1 outfit since joining them from Barcelona three years ago.
However, could he bet set for a big move to the Premier League with West Ham, or are the Hammers playing games?
Real reason West Ham launched £25m Jean-Clair Todibo bid
Now, Todibo is obviously a top-class player, so it doesn’t surprise me in the slightest that Lopetegui might want him at the London Stadium.
Nice will apparently sell the 24-year-old for around £40 million, and I have to say, he’d be an exceptional signing for the Hammers.
However, I think David Sullivan is up to something here, and it’s a clever move if you ask me.
The West Ham majority share holder would have known full well that the £25 million offer for Todibo would be rejected.
The fact that the bid was made so public tells its own story really doesn’t it.
I believe Sullivan made that offer to flush out Wolves…
Lopetegui is keen to bring Max Kilman to the London Stadium, and Wolves are said to be pressuring the Hammers into making an improved bid for the defender after our £30 million offer was rejected.
Wolves are said to be demanding £45 million for the 27-year-old (Yahoo), and it’s clear in my mind that he’s not worth that kind of money.
£35-40 million maybe, but £45 million is surely just pushing it too far – you have to have a cut-off point.
Lopetegui is obviously prioritising a move to sign Max Kilman this summer. The Spaniard managed the centre-back during his time at Wolves, and the towering defender was his club captain at Molineux.
It’s obvious to see that the Hammers boss rates the Wolves star extremely highly, and it’s no secret that he has identified him as his number one transfer target this summer.
West Ham United’s bid for Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo is nothing more than a red herring as far as I’m concerned.
It’s clear who Lopetegui wants. Whether the very public move for the Nice star forces Wolves’ hand regarding Kilman remains to be seen though.
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